Standard Range Model 3 Now Available for $35,000

The wait is over – Tesla is now selling a $35,000 all-electric sedan.

The announcement was teased by Elon Musk is recent days and Tesla made the budget Model 3 available for order Thursday afternoon.

The Standard Range base model will start at $35,000, travel 220 miles on a single charge, hit a top speed of 130 mph and go from 0 to 60mph in 5.6 seconds.

Standard Interior includes:



Manual seat and steering adjustment

Cloth seats and base trim

Basic audio

Standard maps and navigation

Center console with storage and 4 USB ports



A version called “Standard Range Plus” is $37,000 with 240 miles of range, a top speed of 140mph, and a 0 to 60 mph time of 5.3 seconds.

Standard Range Plus also give the option for a “Partial Premium Interior” that includes:



12-way power adjustable heated front seats

Premium seat material and trim

Upgraded audio – immersive sound

Standard maps & navigation

LED fog lamps

Center console with storage, 4 USB ports and docking for 2 smartphones



Tesla also announced that it is shifting sales worldwide to online only. “You can now buy a Tesla in North America via your phone in about 1 minute, and that capability will soon be extended worldwide,” the company said in a blog post.

Tesla said it wants to make it easier to try out and return a Tesla. Consumers can now return a car within seven days or 1,000 miles for a full refund.

“Quite literally, you could buy a Tesla, drive several hundred miles for a weekend road trip with friends and then return it for free,” the post said.

Shifting all sales online, combined with other ongoing cost efficiencies, will enable Tesla to lower all vehicle prices by about 6% on average, allowing the company to achieve the $35,000 Model 3 price point earlier than expected.

“Over the next few months, we will be winding down many of our stores, with a small number of stores in high-traffic locations remaining as galleries, showcases and Tesla information centers,” the post said. “The important thing for customers in the United States to understand is that, with online sales, anyone in any state can quickly and easily buy a Tesla.”

Tesla also announced a number of firmware upgrades for both new and existing customers. The upgrades will increase the range of the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive Model 3 to 325 miles, increase the top speed of Model 3 Performance to 162 mph, and add an average of approximately 5% peak power to all Model 3 vehicles.

 

[jboy210]

So how do these cars get delivered without a sales location? Delivery specialists will work out of the already overcrowded service centers? It all goes to direct home delivery? That sounds more expensive, especially at end-of-quarter rush.

All those tens of thousands of cars in California each month are delivered at regional delivery centers.

 

[tizio]

Right, but once that 'early adopter' group is tapped out... how do normal people feel about taking this plunge, without a human face to guide them? I'm not denying that there are a bunch of early adopters. What I'm saying is that they are like the marines. Few and proud.

This is only a medium range tactic to enable the $35K m3 and shake those pesky naysayers, shorts, board members, and SEC haters.

I fully expect to see a return to retail down the road.

 

[Magellan55]

All those tens of thousands of cars in California each month are delivered at regional delivery centers.

And that's apparently where they will keep galleries open too. I'm talking about the rest of the country / world, where deliveries are done at the sales office (where I picked mine up). I can see them laying off sales people and stopping the test drives, but deliveries still need to take place somewhere. And where does one return a car within the 1000 mile return window? Or do a trade-in? My state only has 2 service centers, and they are already bonkers with no place to park when you do get an appointment. I can't see them taking on this additional burden.

 

[StealthP3D]

Every bought a computer. If you buy every 5 years it is a lot more power and storage for a lot less money. So it will be with EVs.

I bought a Micron laptop in the mid-1990's for $6,000. You can buy them on eBay now for under $100. That's how tech works.

 

[03DSG]

I bought a Micron laptop in the mid-1990's for $6,000. You can buy them on eBay now for under $100. That's how tech works.

Exactly (my early/mid 90’s 486 was $1500 built by a buddy)

 

[e-FTW]

Looks like they are keeping the glass roof. Pretty sweet for the $35k car!
Makes sense for simplifying production of course.

 

[howardc64]

I had a 3 reserved (current S owner) and when Tesla was doing their year end sales push, got an invite to the local service center for a test drive. Service center had 3 cars parked inside like a showroom (X, S, 3) and a person that rode with us on the test drive. Obviously if I wanted to buy, it would just go back to an online experience.

Seems like Tesla is just seeking efficiency by turning a small part of service centers into "show rooms" and test drives with minimal space + staff. Those mall based showrooms were designed to gain exposure for a relatively rare product back in the day. Now with tons of 3s running around on the road, its really just going back to your classic dealership setup. Difference is just much bigger service, little show room, and all Tesla owned.

 

[e-FTW]

And to those of you that got your car recently and are concerned about the price changes: You have been driving your car. And you probably have been enjoying it. This is much like what happens with anything else you buy: you can get one now and enjoy it, or “wait for the better model” and have nothing right now.
Also Tesla is delaying obsolescence of your car by extending your range and making some cars faster through an over-the-air software update. How nuts is that?

We’re also excited to announce that we’re implementing a number of firmware upgrades for both new and existing customers. These upgrades will increase the range of the Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive Model 3 to 325 miles, increase the top speed of Model 3 Performance to 162 mph, and add an average of approximately 5% peak power to all Model 3 vehicles.

 

[e-FTW]

I had a 3 reserved (current S owner) and when Tesla was doing their year end sales push, got an invite to the local service center for a test drive. Service center had 3 cars parked inside like a showroom (X, S, 3) and a person that rode with us on the test drive. Obviously if I wanted to buy, it would just go back to an online experience.

Seems like Tesla is just seeking efficiency by turning a small part of service centers into "show rooms" and test drives with minimal space + staff. Those mall based showrooms were designed to gain exposure for a relatively rare product back in the day. Now with tons of 3s running around on the road, its really just going back to your classic dealership setup. Difference is just much bigger service, little show room, and all Tesla owned.

That also now hints at how they were planning to make Service Centers keep more parts in stock. They can regain floor space for those that share buildings with a gallery.

 

[srjinatl]

And that's apparently where they will keep galleries open too. I'm talking about the rest of the country / world, where deliveries are done at the sales office (where I picked mine up). I can see them laying off sales people and stopping the test drives, but deliveries still need to take place somewhere. And where does one return a car within the 1000 mile return window? Or do a trade-in? My state only has 2 service centers, and they are already bonkers with no place to park when you do get an appointment. I can't see them taking on this additional burden.

I think that the plan has been stated pretty clearly - and the current lack of service centers has been acknowledged. So they need to execute on the plan to build out the number of service centers to satisfy the need for both increased service capacity and increased space to handle deliveries.

 

[justaute]

This is what you think when you are a dysfunctional buyer.

Tesla is far from a dysfunctional company. Unless you think creating a car as amazing as the Model 3 is as simple as taking a legacy car and installing an electric motor, some batteries and an iPad and calling it a day.

Nice. Now you want to make it personal. Ok. Just look at the personnel changes in recent Tesla history, including the most recent general counsel who was there merely weeks. Musk is also known for his capricious, volatile leadership traits.

If you want to be a Tesla fanboy, that's your prerogative. If you are not mature enough to acquit yourself well, it's still your business. Perhaps you don't have meaningful business management or sufficient technical background. Nonetheless, to make a strawman argument based on uneducated inference certainly is not impressive.

Of course, debating with people like you is at best a pyrrhic victory -- analogous to debating with Trump Jr.

 

[howardc64]

That also now hints at how they were planning to make Service Centers keep more parts in stock. They can regain floor space for those that share buildings with a gallery.

Yes, and service center demand also likely shrunk (on a per car basis) through mobile tech. Mobile tech's success suggest EV's power train don't need to go up on lift much thus most of the repairs can be done anywhere without a lift. Without mobile tech, would have been challenging to scale out classical dealer service centers quickly to meet the higher numbers of cars in field.

 

[Prunesquallor]

So, had I waited a couple of months, the net price reduction for my AWD would be $2,250 -- basically a new set of nice wheels. Sigh...

This is what happens when you have a dysfunctional company.

It’s “dysfunctional” to lower prices? Would you feel better if prices went up?
It happened to me too, but I’m not bi+ching. We were early adopters with new tech. It was inevitable.

 

[StealthP3D]

Nice. Now you want to make it personal. Ok. Just look at the personnel changes in recent Tesla history, including the most recent general counsel who was there merely weeks. Musk is also known for his capricious, volatile leadership traits.

If you want to be a Tesla fanboy, that's your prerogative. If you are not mature enough to acquit yourself well, it's still your business. Perhaps you don't have meaningful business management or sufficient technical background. Nonetheless, to make a strawman argument based on uneducated inference certainly is not impressive.

Of course, debating with people like you is at best a pyrrhic victory.

I'm just saying that a dysfunctional company is not capable of producing a car as astounding as the Model 3 in so many key areas (safety, efficiency, performance, reliability, aesthetics and convenience). Not everyone that goes to work for Tesla is up to the job and the fact that some quit is something the short-sellers try to capitalize on by doing everything in their power to try to bring them down. They are not rooting for the newest and most innovative American car company ever, they do not sit on the sidelines to see what will happen, they actively populate Internet forums and misrepresent the quality, reliability and safety of their cars in their shameful attempt to dissuade new buyers. This is not a new thing, it's been going on for a decade or more. I'll be the first to admit that Tesla has experienced some serious growing pains but when a company is growing at the rate Tesla has over the last couple of years, there are bound to be growth pains.

So, had I waited a couple of months, the net price reduction for my AWD would be $2,250 -- basically a new set of nice wheels. Sigh...

This is what happens when you have a dysfunctional company.

You are blaming a price reduction on the company being "dysfunctional". I see the price reduction as a necessary and important part of their mission to bring sustainable transportation to the world. A dysfunctional company would have been too paralyzed to react to market conditions. I don't agree that you can blame a timely price drop on dysfunction (just because it wasn't timely for YOU). That shows good acumen, not dysfunction.

 

[mspohr]

I'm wondering how many people feel comfortable ordering something so durable as a car on the web, without any sales staff to talk to... at all? More importantly, if this is later proven to be a mistake, it may be hard to 'get back' the institutional knowledge that is lost when the sales staff are told to hit the road. It really strikes me as being penny wise and pound foolish.

Have you ever learned anything from any car salesperson ever?

 

[StealthP3D]

Have you ever learned anything from any car salesperson ever?

No, I'm usually training them. And they usually don't seem very interested in learning the details about the products they sell.

I try to buy everything I need online these days, at least things that are non-perishable.

 

[Missile Toad]

Have you ever learned anything from any car salesperson ever?

<detecting humor>... OK, yeah, most of us on the TMC site could teach volumes to the salespeople. Point I'm making is, when technology gets in the hands of newbies, are they going to start with a lot of clues, or are they going to need some salespeople holding their hands. Look around this site. Majority of the people are in technical fields, pilots, mathematicians, etc. Try selling this to anybody over 50 who doesn't have a technical degree, or can't put up with a 'taper'. I'll wager, that it is the teaming masses where sales people have the biggest impact -- not with the well-educated.

 

[Ludalicious]

Looks like they are keeping the glass roof. Pretty sweet for the $35k car!
Makes sense for simplifying production of course.

I disagree
Was looking to add a couple of these as fleet service vehicles. Cant due that due to the roof. Not ideal to carry multiple ladders on glass roofs. Would be an expensive fix

 

[hunter399]

I purchased my M3 Sunday and have paid in full but have not taken delivery. I called my advisor today and asked what the next steps are after the introductions today and she said she had no idea. Thoughts?

 

[StealthP3D]

I disagree
Was looking to add a couple of these as fleet service vehicles. Cant due that due to the roof. Not ideal to carry multiple ladders on glass roofs. Would be an expensive fix

I'm baffled by that comment. Who uses a low-slung sports sedan as a fleet service vehicle? With ladders on the roof, your aerodynamics are shot anyway and the car is awfully low and svelt for getting in/out with work boots and clothing on. Don't get me wrong, I love the Model 3 form factor, it just wouldn't be my first choice for a fleet service vehicle carrying ladders and the glass roof would be the least of my concerns.